Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc fka ARIA

[jbog]

Someone has to put controls of healthcare spending. Whether we have to adapt an "NICE" type of program like Europe or change our Patent Process something has to bring the field back to reality.

Let's for a minute use Ariad's own statement to Bernies question. Ariad has stated it has spent $1.4 Billion in research so far to help people with dreaded diseases. I personally applaud this, but who gave them a carte blanche to do this.

Was the money used efficiently? Were the results worth it? Could it have been done better?

In no other industry in the world do you have a situation where because of a government approval (fda) and government protection (patents) can a company demand any amount of remuneration it desires.

I have a friend who's granddaughter has CF. She's on Vertex's CF drug which doesn't cure anything but does help her (marginally at best). Cost: A tad over $500k per year. She'll be on these drugs for her whole life as of now.

This has to be controlled.